Why I hate the library even though I spend the majority of my time in there.
August 21, 2008: "And if I have to sit through one more library tutorial I'm going to shoot myself in the knee..."
I just read this and laughed a little bit. I've sat through three so far this year. Two of them were for the same class.
I really don't like the librarians, their rules, or their attitudes. This topic gets me so worked upped I think I might make a list about it.
1. For a place that is supposed to be silent, they talk very loudly. Whether it is to ask people what they are working on before they log someone onto the computer, making personal calls on the phone, or shouting across the library to ask when another librarian is taking their lunch break, they are too fucking loud. Seriously, it is a library... shhh.
2. They have to log you into a computer before you can use it. While most students don't log out and just get up and leave so others can get to work in the 27.5-minute lunch they have to write a paper, the librarians are against it. They wonder the library to search out computers that no one is using to log them out. It is a hassle for us to finally find a computer as it is, so why make it a problem for both of us to find you (while you are making personal calls or eating lunch) and have you log us in.
3. As we awkwardly to the computer in question together, why do you need to ask us what we are working on? It is obvious you don't care. And if I was planning on using the computer to go on Facebook, look at porn, or to break into the schools data base system to switch my grades, I would make up an excuse saying that I am working on an English paper.
4. Thanks for the looks you give me when I use Wikipedia instead of your 3484 paid for databases when I'm working on a paper, finishing homework, or double-checking on something for a test I have in 8 minutes. The reason I don't use your databases is because
(a) I don't have all the user names and passwords memorized, and there is a different one for each site.
(b) The databases aren't as helpful as you think (and constantly say) they are.
(c) They are impossible to navigate. You can do it because that is your job, but when we actually have a specific topic question and nothing shows up we don't have the time to go through all 3484 of them.
(d) When is Wikipedia not reliable? The worse outcome is that we get a date or some other unimportant fact wrong, but it sure beats the time that we would have spent navigating the databases that don't guarantee results.
5. I'm really not a fan of being yelled at when I'm quietly talking at a table - a place for group communication - while people in the silent study area are yapping away on their phone. Obviously the table area is going to be a little more livelier, and just because we are having fun while getting work done we shouldn't be humiliated in front of everyone for it.
6. I can read the signs that say, "This area is for silent study" and be able to understand them. It annoys me how there are groups of people basically yelling to each other at a table built for one, and no one notices. Maybe you could take time away from logging students into computers and hanging out in your back room to make sure that the silent study area is actually silent. Thanks for doing your jobs.
7. I'm assuming you have never noticed this because you are too busy eating lunch at all times of the day to check it out, but in the 'somewhat silent' study area, there are people talking on their phones, singing to their iPods and basically talking in their outdoor voices while others are trying to study. Maybe I should have finished the math homework last night instead of watching Gossip Girl, but I go to the library to get work done. I don't know why some people think that this is a branch off from the cafeteria (and I'm only saying this because I've seen someone eat a hamburger back there), but it would mean a lot if you could just poke back here once in a while to make sure everything is in order. I mean, I think it minding the library is somewhat the job you are getting paid for.
8. I understand the economy is going through a downward spiral, but to charge us for printouts is unfair. Normally, I wouldn't care about this but since last year we got a free ride, it’s annoying that this happened. I understand people abused this by printing out 3473 pages, but the charging for printouts over 5 pages prevented this. If I print out a 10-page paper, I'll be more than happy to pay for the extras. Or maybe have a system where each student has X amount of printouts free, and then when they max out of the, they have to pay for everything they print out.
Actually, it's not even the paying thing that bothers me; it is the fact that you don't accept pennies. I understand they are being obsolete in the world, but they are still a legal tender that can be used to repay any private or public debt. This is a public (school) debt, and you are forced under the law to accept pennies. I don't walk around with an unlimited amount of nickels and dimes, but I always have an abundance of pennies. I would be able to kill two birds with one stone, pay for my printouts and get rid of the copper coins weighing down my pockets at the same time. When you give me attitude and a bullshit argument because I want to pay with pennies, it makes me want to go through books (not the ones you have, because your collection is not as impressive as you make it seem... I mean, what if I need encyclopedias F, V, and X-Z?) and figure out where it says I am allowed to pay in pennies.
9. The penny issue is also the reason I take a dime, but never ever leave a dime.
10. I understand sitting on the floor is a fire hazard. I do it because there are not that many seats for my to sit in while I wait for a friend. I understand waiting and not doing work is frowned upon, but I'm reading a book, so at least I'm working my brain. As a human with some some sense, I don't understand why me setting is a fire hazard. If the fire alarm went off (and it wasn't a drill, or an act of arson in a bathroom trash can on the first floor boys bathroom), I would be the first to get off my ass and out of the library as fast as possible. Besides not wanting to be burned alive, I am able to figure out that a room full of books will go up in flames pretty quickly, and even though I despise the library, I am a fan of books, and it would be a little upsetting to see all these stories burned. Honestly, although I could be fun for shits and giggles, having a bunch of people trip over me while their evading a fire-y death just isn't my thing. I'd rather bounce out and get a coffee while the school deals with 2000+ extremely close to a giant building that if it was actually on fire, the "safety" areas designated across the street would still singe the students like marshmallows over a fire in July.
11. Last, but no least, is the whole library information sessions that you give at every chance you get. (a) I don't understand why there are at least two of you, if not more. Maybe if you each had different topics to talk about, I could understand, but since one of you speaks and then the other reiterates in the exact same words, it isn't helpful.
(b) I am a senior. This means I have been at school for over three years, have been using a computer for over 12 years, and am not as dumb as a doorknob. I am pretty capable at using a computer, thank you very much. I don't need the "type in web address by starting with 'www' and don't use any spaces in the url" or the "make sure that the CAPS LOCK isn't on when you type in the password because it can make all the difference" bullshit. Surprisingly, I was able to figure that out on my own the first time I was confronted with that situation.
(c) You show us the same databases each time. Every single database. I am doing an American History paper; I don't need to see the art galleries database, the science lab databases, or the international subjects like Chinese culture in the 115 BC's page. A-M-E-R-I-C-A=N History. That means (late) 1600's until now. Pretty modern. Maybe some Great British stuff, but the information relevant to the United States - not their conflicts with the Irish.
(d) This may be my favorite thing you do. You take an example that no one is using for his or her topic - like birds - and search for it. Okay, we get that you are using it as an example and we'll play along for a moment of or so. But when you start pulling books of the chart for birds 20 minutes later, it gets me confused. Are you trying to be as unhelpful as possible by getting material for a topic no one is studying? Or are you undermining our intellect by showing us how to pull a book of a chart? Please stop walking around showing us the picture of the bird; it is neither helpful nor amusing because unlike you, we are working hard.
Only 204 days until I graduate and even less until I stop caring about my grades (just kidding) enough to go to the library. Until then, I hope that it will improve, but I doubt that the librarians will be able to leave their databases to realize how their tactics annoy the hell out of the student body.
I just read this and laughed a little bit. I've sat through three so far this year. Two of them were for the same class.
I really don't like the librarians, their rules, or their attitudes. This topic gets me so worked upped I think I might make a list about it.
1. For a place that is supposed to be silent, they talk very loudly. Whether it is to ask people what they are working on before they log someone onto the computer, making personal calls on the phone, or shouting across the library to ask when another librarian is taking their lunch break, they are too fucking loud. Seriously, it is a library... shhh.
2. They have to log you into a computer before you can use it. While most students don't log out and just get up and leave so others can get to work in the 27.5-minute lunch they have to write a paper, the librarians are against it. They wonder the library to search out computers that no one is using to log them out. It is a hassle for us to finally find a computer as it is, so why make it a problem for both of us to find you (while you are making personal calls or eating lunch) and have you log us in.
3. As we awkwardly to the computer in question together, why do you need to ask us what we are working on? It is obvious you don't care. And if I was planning on using the computer to go on Facebook, look at porn, or to break into the schools data base system to switch my grades, I would make up an excuse saying that I am working on an English paper.
4. Thanks for the looks you give me when I use Wikipedia instead of your 3484 paid for databases when I'm working on a paper, finishing homework, or double-checking on something for a test I have in 8 minutes. The reason I don't use your databases is because
(a) I don't have all the user names and passwords memorized, and there is a different one for each site.
(b) The databases aren't as helpful as you think (and constantly say) they are.
(c) They are impossible to navigate. You can do it because that is your job, but when we actually have a specific topic question and nothing shows up we don't have the time to go through all 3484 of them.
(d) When is Wikipedia not reliable? The worse outcome is that we get a date or some other unimportant fact wrong, but it sure beats the time that we would have spent navigating the databases that don't guarantee results.
5. I'm really not a fan of being yelled at when I'm quietly talking at a table - a place for group communication - while people in the silent study area are yapping away on their phone. Obviously the table area is going to be a little more livelier, and just because we are having fun while getting work done we shouldn't be humiliated in front of everyone for it.
6. I can read the signs that say, "This area is for silent study" and be able to understand them. It annoys me how there are groups of people basically yelling to each other at a table built for one, and no one notices. Maybe you could take time away from logging students into computers and hanging out in your back room to make sure that the silent study area is actually silent. Thanks for doing your jobs.
7. I'm assuming you have never noticed this because you are too busy eating lunch at all times of the day to check it out, but in the 'somewhat silent' study area, there are people talking on their phones, singing to their iPods and basically talking in their outdoor voices while others are trying to study. Maybe I should have finished the math homework last night instead of watching Gossip Girl, but I go to the library to get work done. I don't know why some people think that this is a branch off from the cafeteria (and I'm only saying this because I've seen someone eat a hamburger back there), but it would mean a lot if you could just poke back here once in a while to make sure everything is in order. I mean, I think it minding the library is somewhat the job you are getting paid for.
8. I understand the economy is going through a downward spiral, but to charge us for printouts is unfair. Normally, I wouldn't care about this but since last year we got a free ride, it’s annoying that this happened. I understand people abused this by printing out 3473 pages, but the charging for printouts over 5 pages prevented this. If I print out a 10-page paper, I'll be more than happy to pay for the extras. Or maybe have a system where each student has X amount of printouts free, and then when they max out of the, they have to pay for everything they print out.
Actually, it's not even the paying thing that bothers me; it is the fact that you don't accept pennies. I understand they are being obsolete in the world, but they are still a legal tender that can be used to repay any private or public debt. This is a public (school) debt, and you are forced under the law to accept pennies. I don't walk around with an unlimited amount of nickels and dimes, but I always have an abundance of pennies. I would be able to kill two birds with one stone, pay for my printouts and get rid of the copper coins weighing down my pockets at the same time. When you give me attitude and a bullshit argument because I want to pay with pennies, it makes me want to go through books (not the ones you have, because your collection is not as impressive as you make it seem... I mean, what if I need encyclopedias F, V, and X-Z?) and figure out where it says I am allowed to pay in pennies.
9. The penny issue is also the reason I take a dime, but never ever leave a dime.
10. I understand sitting on the floor is a fire hazard. I do it because there are not that many seats for my to sit in while I wait for a friend. I understand waiting and not doing work is frowned upon, but I'm reading a book, so at least I'm working my brain. As a human with some some sense, I don't understand why me setting is a fire hazard. If the fire alarm went off (and it wasn't a drill, or an act of arson in a bathroom trash can on the first floor boys bathroom), I would be the first to get off my ass and out of the library as fast as possible. Besides not wanting to be burned alive, I am able to figure out that a room full of books will go up in flames pretty quickly, and even though I despise the library, I am a fan of books, and it would be a little upsetting to see all these stories burned. Honestly, although I could be fun for shits and giggles, having a bunch of people trip over me while their evading a fire-y death just isn't my thing. I'd rather bounce out and get a coffee while the school deals with 2000+ extremely close to a giant building that if it was actually on fire, the "safety" areas designated across the street would still singe the students like marshmallows over a fire in July.
11. Last, but no least, is the whole library information sessions that you give at every chance you get. (a) I don't understand why there are at least two of you, if not more. Maybe if you each had different topics to talk about, I could understand, but since one of you speaks and then the other reiterates in the exact same words, it isn't helpful.
(b) I am a senior. This means I have been at school for over three years, have been using a computer for over 12 years, and am not as dumb as a doorknob. I am pretty capable at using a computer, thank you very much. I don't need the "type in web address by starting with 'www' and don't use any spaces in the url" or the "make sure that the CAPS LOCK isn't on when you type in the password because it can make all the difference" bullshit. Surprisingly, I was able to figure that out on my own the first time I was confronted with that situation.
(c) You show us the same databases each time. Every single database. I am doing an American History paper; I don't need to see the art galleries database, the science lab databases, or the international subjects like Chinese culture in the 115 BC's page. A-M-E-R-I-C-A=N History. That means (late) 1600's until now. Pretty modern. Maybe some Great British stuff, but the information relevant to the United States - not their conflicts with the Irish.
(d) This may be my favorite thing you do. You take an example that no one is using for his or her topic - like birds - and search for it. Okay, we get that you are using it as an example and we'll play along for a moment of or so. But when you start pulling books of the chart for birds 20 minutes later, it gets me confused. Are you trying to be as unhelpful as possible by getting material for a topic no one is studying? Or are you undermining our intellect by showing us how to pull a book of a chart? Please stop walking around showing us the picture of the bird; it is neither helpful nor amusing because unlike you, we are working hard.
Only 204 days until I graduate and even less until I stop caring about my grades (just kidding) enough to go to the library. Until then, I hope that it will improve, but I doubt that the librarians will be able to leave their databases to realize how their tactics annoy the hell out of the student body.